5 times Om Puri Was the Biggest Ambassador Of Indo-Pak Friendship

It is a sad day for Pakistan and India with the passing of the legendary actor – Mr. Om Puri. He was regarded as a highly respected actor across the border. With him, we have also lost a great ambassador for the India-Pakistan Friendship.

Here are some heartfelt quotes from the man himself

Credit: Google Images

Sep 2016

“I have been hanging around with this crew for around 10 days. I have done 300 films and I have never done promotions before except for three films in the West – East is East, My Son The Fanatic and The City of Joy. This is my contribution to have a healthy relationship with India and Pakistan,”
“The moment I find out that they have announced a film. I will immediately get a visa, fly there and stand in front of the camera. If they try to move me away, then I will call the international media! I know the Pakistani consulate people very well now. I went to the embassy for the first time recently. They told me, ‘forget about the visa, first, come and have tea with us.’ Then I spoke to them for around an hour and met many people from the office. I got my visa within an hour!”

Credit: Google Images

October 2016

“Do you want India-Pakistan enmity to turn like Israel and Palestine, and fight for ages?”

Credit: Google Images

Dec 2015

“There are two locks on Pakistan and India sides and the keys to these locks are in the hands of Nawaz Sharif and Modi. Unlocking these will afford people on both sides an opportunity to interact with each other,”

Credit: Google Images

March 2014

“The love and affection I have gotten from Pakistanis across the world has been extraordinary.”

He remembers an incident from back in the 90s while filming My Son the Fanatic in London, when his son wanted to eat bhindi (lady fingers). In order to fulfill his son’s wishes, Puri ventured out to South Hall. “After I had selected all the vegetables I wanted to get, I proceeded to the cashier and the gentleman was a Pakistani who recognised me. He did not let me pay for the vegetables and said ‘you have given us so much joy and we have enjoyed your work so much that it is ethically wrong for me to take money from you’.”